Oakland Park Oks Restraint On Mayor

OAKLAND PARK — The City Council adopted a resolution on Thursday requiring the mayor to obtain council approval before issuing a proclamation.

The resolution is aimed at preventing the mayor from issuing proclamations for personal reasons, according to council member H. Keneth Powell.

In remarks on Thursday, Powell said the council was concerned about the possibility that Vice Mayor Mary Laveratt -- who will become mayor on March 19 -- might issue an anti-abortion proclamation.

Two years ago, then-Mayor Glenn Dufek, with Laveratt`s full support, issued a proclamation equating abortion with the Nazi extermination of 6 million Jews during World War II.

``That was something they did for their own private gain,`` said Powell.

The resolution on Thursday was approved 4-1, with Laveratt casting the only dissenting vote. In addition to proclamations, the mayor is also required to obtain council permission before handing out any awards or keys to the city.

When Dufek was mayor, he presented a key to the city to right-wing activist Phyllis Schlafly at an anti-abortion seminar in Fort Lauderdale.

``The position of mayor is subservient to the council,`` said council member James Loss, who proposed the resolution.

According to the city charter, the mayor has no authority to issue proclamations, but mayors in Oakland Park have done so for years.

Laveratt objected to the measure, arguing that no city in Broward County requires prior council approval for mayoral proclamations.

``There`s a broad range of what the mayor`s role is, whether it be honorary or elected,`` said Laveratt.

The executive powers of the mayor were stripped a year ago when voters approved a charter change referendum from a strong-mayor to a council-manager form of government.

Loss said Thursday`s resolution follows ``the spirit`` of the referendum.